Workman&#39;s warning system for railways



Feb. 20, 1951 P. ADDORlSlO WORKMANS WARNING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS 2 SheetsrSheet 1 Filed April 10, 1948 l iORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 WORKMANS WARNING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAYS Patsy Addorisio, Portchester, N. Y.

Application April 1-0, 1948, Serial No. 20,172

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a warning signalling system, and more particularly to a signalling system for railways to provide at desired points along the railbed a warning of an approaching train, so that construction or maintenance men working on the roadbed, rails or other equipment in the vicinity of such points will be given ample warning of the approaching train.

It is an object of this invention to provide a warning system under the control of the workmen which will give the workmen ample warning of an approaching train and enable them to get out of the path of the train.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the railway showing the usual power line carrying poles spaced along the roadbed and showing a preferred arrangement of certain parts of the warning system of this invention on these poles and along the roadbed; and

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram of a warning system embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing the warning circuit is illustratively shown as applied to successive divisions A and B of a railroad, it being understood that the railroad is divided into a large number of such divisions, the exact number depending on the length of the railroad. Each division may be of any desired length, say two miles, or longer. As the component parts of the warning circuit in each division are identical, only the parts associated with division B will be described in detail below, identical parts in division A being given the same reference numerals primed.

A main power source P comprises a pair of power lines II and I2 supported by poles I3 spaced at intervals along the length of the railroad. At the beginning of each division is a warning light I4, which, as shown in Figure l, is mounted on one of the poles I3, but which may be suspended above the tracks ID or otherwise mounted so as to be clearly visible to an approaching train. A normally open doublepole, single-throw switch I5 is positioned at the beginning of each division near the tracks I0. Switch I5 in each division is momentarily closed by a suitable actuator arm (not shown) carried by the locomotive or first car of each train as the latter passes the switch I5, the switch springing open under the action of a spring or other suitable means once the actuator arm is no longer contact therewith,

Each division A, B, etc., is provided with a plurality of switches I6, I! spaced along the roadbed where they are readily accessible to the workmen. The switch I6 in each division is located near the beginning of the division and is of the double-pole, single-throw type having sections a and b. The switches I! in each division are located at spaced points along the roadbed and are of the single-pole, single-throw type, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2.

Three switches I6, I1 are illustratively shown in each division A and B in Figure 2. These switches, as shown in Figure 1, are mounted on the poles I3 where they are readily accessible to the workmen. However, it will be understood that any desired number of switches I! could be spaced along the roadbed at any convenient location where they are accessible to the workmen.

Section D of switch I6 and switches I! of division B are connected in parallel, lead I8 connecting the movable contact arms and lead 59 connecting the fixed contacts of the switches I1 and of section b of switch I6. Section o of switch I6 of division B is connected in parallel with section b of switch I6 of division A and with switches I1 of the preceding division A by leads I8 and I9. Thus section a of each switch I6 is connected in parallel with section b of a switch I6 in the preceding division and section b of each switch- I6 is connected in parallel with section a of alike switch in a succeeding division of the railroad.

Lead I8 is connected by lead 2I to power line I2 and lead I9 is connected by lead 22 to one side of warning lamp I4, the other side of which is connected by lead 23 to power line II. Lead 22 is also connected by lead 24 to one of the fixed contacts 25 and to one of the movable contact arms 26 of switch I5. A fixed contact 21 of switch I5 associated with movable contact arm 26 is connected by a lead 28 to a terminal 29 on terminal strip 3|. A plurality of terminal strips 3I is provided in each division spaced along the roadbed; one of these is illustratively shown in each division in Figure 1, but it will be understood, as above indicated, a number of these strips are positioned at suitable points along the length of each division, desirably one such strip is provided for each switch I6 and IT. The remaining terminals 32 and 33 on terminal strips 3I are connected, respectively, to power lines I2 and II by leads 34 and 35.

Movable contact arm 36 of switch I5 associated with fixed contact 25 is connected by a lead 31 to a fixed contact 21 of the switch I5 in the.

succeeding division (not shown). Fixed contact 21 of switch I6, shown in Figure 2, is connected by a lead 38 to the movable contact arm 36' of switch t5.

A portable alarm 39 is provided comprising a normally open relay R of the double-pole, singlethrow type having a common movable contact arm M, a pair of fixed contacts 42 and 43 associated therewith, an alarm bell 44, a normally closed manually operable switch 45. and a terminal strip 46 provided with terminals 41, 48 and 49 thereon. Terminal 4'! is connected by lead 5! to one side of the coil 52 of the relay R. and to fixed contact 42. The other .side of the coil 52 is connected by lead 54 to one side of the switch 45, the other side of which is connected by lead 53 to terminal 49 and by lead 55' toaone side of alarm bell 44. The other side of bell 4,4 is connected by lead 53 to fixed contact 43. Movable contact arm 41 is connected by lead 5 to terminal 48 to complete the circuit.

Operation When repairs are to be made along the roadbed one of the workmen of the crew first connects his portable alarm box 39 to a terminal strip 3 disposed on a pole near the lace where the crew will work, the switch 45 in the portable alarm being closed. Thus terminals 23, 41; 32, 48 and 3 3, ESQrespectively, are connected. Assuming that the workman is near the beginning of a division B, he will then close switch 5. Section b of switch 16 will completea circuit .to warning light 14 from power line l 2, leads 2B,, 18, through closed section b of switch 18, lead 22, lamp l4, lead 33, to powerline ll thereby energizing the amp- Is; As section a of switch it will also be closed a circuit will be completed to lamp 14 of division A from power line 12, leads 2| and I8 through closed section a of switch l6 in division B, oad '18 nd 2?. through .lo r an o d 23 to power line H, thereby energizing lamp l4. engineer will see the signal light l4 and have ample time toslow down before entering division B hs ihs or m n, are ooa As ths ra n enters division A its aetuator arm will momenfip l QlWQ Wh =5-'- This will omrl a Q ur o r abl a a m o n divis on B1 n gize the latter. This circuit is from main l2, o o hr o eos oiioe o o swit h is o o-i si n V o os i 32? and?! xodsootests 2. a m abl ct one 5! o witc =1 wh a s n nga eme t a '33, t fix contact 27 of switch of division lead 28 to terminal 29 on terminal strip 3| thence to rm a o e-rm bo, ad tor l y coil 52, through the relay coil lead 54, closed switch 45 and lead 53 to terminal 48, thence to terminal 33 on terminal strip 3| and lead 3 5 .to power line H.

Energization of relay coil 52 will bring movable nt t ar 41 nt e ga e e w th fired c tacts 42 and 43 and complete a holding circuit for coil 52, The circuit is as fol1ows-,from line [2; lead 34, terminal 32, terminal 48, lead 5?, movable contact arm 45, which is in engagement with fixed contacts 42 and 43, coil 52 lead 54, closed switch 45 and lead 53 to terminal 49 and terminal 33 through lead 3'5 to line H. Thus, as the train passes switch [5 in division A and the switch opens, coil 52 will remain energized. As bell 44 is now in circuit being in parallel with relay coil 52, the ball will ring. The circuit for the bell is from line [2, lead 34, terminals 32 and :8, lead 57, movable contact arm 4|, fixed contact 43, lead 56 through hell 44, leads55 and Thus, as a train enters division A the 4 53 to terminals 49 and 33, then through lead 35 to line H.

Thus ample warning will be given to the workmen at the beginning of division B of the approach of the train. Since no portable alarm is connected to a terminal strip 3! in division A no alarm will be sounded in this division.

As the train enters division B the actuator arm thereof will momentarily close switch If. As alarm bell 44 is already ringing the closing of switch I5 will have no effect.

Should a workman also be working in division A his alarm will be energized as well as the alarm in division B. However, as there is no need for his alarm :bell to be again actuated after the train-passes him, switch i5 is so connected that the passage of a train will not actuate the alarm bell in the preceding division. Thus, as movable contact arm 26 and fixed contact 21 are brought nto en a ement b th pas a e f a t ain. n flow of; current to the coil of relay R in division A takes place because contact arm 36. is not in engagement with the fixed contact 2 5;".

f er he t a n has pass d t e w m n i division B; need only open switch 45 in the-alarm box its to break the holding circuit to relay coil '52, thereby deenerg-izing the latter and separatin m v l cont s arms and edontac 4. Thi ill re k t i o al rm b 44- he rkman then agai o osswaeh 45 o pla e he temic readin ss for the next a n- When the job is fini heal the workman need o ly r m v th alarm bo and, o en switc t to .dos reize'tho t nd; 4".

ould. a w hman'bo ork ng a po t remote from switch IS in divisi Bheconnects his. ala b x s bov desc ibed. with a t rminal' s r p. n a hi n ece o o k, c oses swi ch 45 and a s it 5 elsonsar he ac i. work.- he l s n sw tch 5 wil ener iz amp 4.

but no lamp t si ce wit h -5 i pen As.- the train approaches lamp [4' it slows down in,

w of. the signa in ass n sw tc 5 momentarily closes he witch ene izin ell 4, as r nahor eos r loodl i in t e krne ample time to getoot o he path o he tr. n:-

Itwill be n ed his. nv n io p v es a: Wa ns sy m. nder h so t Q o h wo men, which. system is o os; mad. that ho ld the workm n ee-Workin lo e to h be in i oi a.

division, ig als are ne giz at e be innin of the divisionin whichtbs -o m narie located; a well as in a pre edin di sio he approachins train. enterin he prec din divis n to-- maticallv energi n a alarm Where the wors men. are po itioned iving, t e. wo kmen ample time to get out of the path of the train. Sho ld the wor men be workin in :a p rt n of the divisio remote f om ts be inning. thenonl-y the i nal at he eginn ng oithis particular division.

s n reized d the trainautoma sally p ate h alarm only whenv it. enters this particular division.

Since different embodiments. of. the. invention could be made without departing from the scope of this. invention, it is intended that. all matter contained in the above description or shown in,

l. Ina Warning system for arailwayconsisting o1" a-plurality of successived-ivisions, in combination, a visible signal at the beginning of eachdi-vision, a single-throw train operated switch at the beginning of each division, which switch is normally open and is adapted to be momentarily closed by a passing train, a double-pole, two-section switch located at the beginning of each division, one section of each double-pole, two-section switch being in circuit with a section of a like switch in a preceding division and the other section of said double-pole, two-section switch being in circuit with a section of a like switch in a succeeding division, a plurality of individual switches located in spaced relationship along the length of each division and connected in parallel with each other and with the said double-pole, two-section switch in said division, a pair of power lines in each division in circuit with (1) said visible signal, (2) said train-operated switch, (3) one section of said double-pole, two-section switch, and (4) said plurality of said individual switches in said division, closing of any of said individual switches in a division energizing the visible signal in that division and closing of said double-pole, two-section switch in a division energizing the visible signal in that division and also in a preceding division, a series of terminal strips disposed in spaced relationship in each division, and a portable alarm adapted to be connected with the terminal strip, said alarm adapted to be energized by the closing of the train operated switch by a passing train in the division in which said alarm is located and the closing of one of said individual switches or the double-pole, two-section switch in said division in which said alarm is located.

2. In a warning system for a railway consisting of a plurality of successive divisions, in combination, a visible electric signalling device at the beginning of each division, a single-throw train operated switch at the beginning of each division, which switch is normally open and is adapted to be momentarily closed by a passing train, a double-pole, two-section switch located at the beginning of each division, each section having a fixed contact and a movable arm, one

section of each double-pole, two-section switch being in circuit with a section of a like switch in a preceding division and the other section of said double-pole, two-section switch being in circuit with a section of a like switch in a succeeding division, a plurality of individual switches located in spaced relationship along the length of each division and connected in parallel with each other and with said last-named section of said double-pole, two-section switch in said lastnamed division, a pair of power lines in each division, a series connection between said visible signalling device, said power lines and said lastnamed section of said double-pole, two-section switch, whereby closing of any of said individual switches in a division energizes the signalling device in that division and closing of said doublepole, two-section switch in a division energizes the signalling device in that division and also in a preceding division, a series of terminal strips disposed in spaced relationship in each division, and a portable alarm adapted to be connected with one of said terminal strips and be energized by the closing of the train operated switch by a passing train in the division in which said alarm is located, and the closing of one of said individual switches or the double-pole, two-section switch in said division.

PATSY ADDORISIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 890,049 Gunn June 9, 1908 1,114,427 Bopp Oct. 20, 1914 1,649,441 Bennewitz Nov. 15, 1927 1,870,294 Prescott Aug. 9, 1932 2,175,740 Charles Oct. 10, 1939 

